As it turns out, the iPhone 6 was only the beginning of Apple's over-sized devices. New reports indicate that the tech giant is working on an enlarged iPad dubbed as the "iPad Pro."
The gigantic 12.9-inch tablet -- although some reports contest the size pegging it at a smaller 12.2-inches -- is said to be challenged with production hiccups causing a delay in mass production.
Based on a report by Mac Rumors, the iPad Pro is pegged to enter mass production by the second quarter of 2015 per KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The delay is attributed to display and panel requirements. The site wrote: "the iPad Pro will use an oxide panel to achieve a 'high resolution, quick response, and high color saturation,' and that the time needed for component yield and assembly to improve will push back production until 2Q 2015."
Kuo predicted that iPad shipments will fall by 54.5 percent quarter over quarter to only 9.8 million units for the first calendar quarter of 2015. He shared that this could be due to the lack of new applications and the saturation of the tablet market.
"We believe that, in a major shift, while Apple (US) used to be able to use new form factor designs to boost demand, it has failed to do so this time around. The lighter and thinner iPad Air 2 will face strong headwinds in increasing sales in 1Q15, we believe; we also hold that this means that iPad, along with the entire tablet market, is faced with structural challenges characterized by a lack of new applications and market saturation. We don't think these challenges will be easily overcome by upgraded specs, new form factor designs or lower prices."
Earlier, it was shared by Bloomberg that the enlarged tablet was allegedly going to be released early 2015 but pushed back mass production set to begin in October to comply with the global demand for the newly released iPhone 6 Plus.
Not much is known about the rumored iPad Pro but it has been shared by various outlets that the tablet will feature a ultra high-resolution 12.2-inch or 12.9-inch display, stereo speakers, and may be powered by an A8X chip, the same one used for the iPad Air 2 in addition to a slim form measuring just 7mm thick.
Along with the introduction of a new line of iPads, iPhone Hacks said that a different appearance will not be enough. "If Apple does end up launch iPad Pro, it will also need to innovate on the software front, and introduce pro features."
While its simplicity has been one of its crowning glories, it has a number of limitations including "the lack of filesystem access, side-by-side multitasking etc." which the site believes has hindered the tablet from being a real productivity aid.
No word has been given on the estimated price of the iPad Pro.
